For 41 years the City of Cincinnati has licensed child care centers. The City adopted regulations long before the State of Ohio began its oversight function, and City leaders regularly renewed their commitment to higher standards – particularly when it came to class size. 

Effective October 31, 2009, the City regulations are off the books, and inspections have ended.  The reason is, like so much in this time of economic strain, the City cannot afford to subsidize this protection for children.  A second concern is that state law does not “give permission” to localities to create child care regulations. This has been the case for the full 41 years, but with this legal opinion, combined with budget constraints, the regulations were doomed. 

4C has convened a group of child care providers and advocates to determine if the child protections are salvageable.  Our first step will be to get language in the state law that permits cities to have regulations which exceed the state’s.  Such language currently exists for nursing homes, and we hope to mirror that language.  If we succeed in this first step , we will then propose a plan in which fees cover all expenses.  I’ll keep blogging on this issue, so stay tuned.